Uber Accidents

Consumers often make the decision to use Uber and other ride-sharing apps to ensure that they are riding safely. However, when drivers are not paying attention or have a history of driving recklessly, serious accidents and related injuries may occur. The Miami Uber accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can take legal action on behalf of passengers or others who have been hurt in an Uber accident. Often, a detailed exploration into the company’s practices, a driver’s record, or other factors involved in these types of collisions is necessary to ensure a proper resolution. Our car accident attorneys represent people in Miami, West Palm Beach, and other cities in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.

Traditionally, taxi companies have been subject to regulations regarding the licensing and bonding of their drivers. However, ride-sharing apps, such as Uber, have no such oversight by governmental or other entities. Known as a ‘transportation network company,’ Uber sets its own standards regarding hiring drivers, and it is able to determine its own practices regarding background checks and training. Although Uber emphasizes that it retains high-limit insurance policies, allowing for up to $1 million in damages if a passenger is injured in an accident, this limit may barely cover the significant or permanent injuries that a victim may face.

When insurance limits are not enough, a passenger or another victim may need to pursue damages in a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties. Defendants in these cases may include a negligent driver and the company that employs them. Uber’s insistence that its drivers are not employees but instead independent contractors makes these claims more complicated than those related to truck drivers and trucking companies, for example. However, the growing trend among Uber drivers who are trying to reclassify their employee status may help overcome this obstacle in the future. Our Uber accident attorneys can advise Miami residents and others on the various theories of liability that they may be able to assert.

Most of these cases are based on negligence claims. To prove that negligence was involved, a plaintiff must establish that there was an owed duty of care by the defendant, the duty was breached, the breach was a proximate cause of the victim’s injuries, and damages resulted. Like anyone else, Uber drivers have a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would act under the same conditions. This duty extends to passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. If a driver excessively speeds in order to provide as many rides as possible, or otherwise engages in erratic driving, they may be held accountable for an accident that results. Uber as a company may also be held liable if it hires or retains drivers who have red flags or fails to monitor its drivers in a reasonable way. If negligence by one or more defendants is established, victims may be awarded damages in the forms of medical costs, loss of income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.

Making sure that you have a knowledgeable advocate on your side is important when going up against big companies trying to minimize costs. If you have been seriously injured in a car accident, it is important that you receive the support that you need. The Miami Uber accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are dedicated to protecting the rights of victims. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal rights and options with a motor vehicle collision.